“Freedom of the press belongs only to those who own one.”
-A. J. Liebling, The New Yorker
Reporters are much like preachers. Both do something that, realistically, anyone can do. Preachers read the Bible, interpret it, and presents it in an understandable format to others. Reporters observe events, interpret them, and present them in an understandable way to others. Preachers may or may not have attended seminary, reporters may or may not have a degree in journalism or communication. Both have a job and a position of prominence that is based simply in the fact that people trust them and give them the authority to relay information their desired and preferred way.
If a preacher then, is anyone a body of people, or congregation, gives authority to present the Bible to them, then a reporter is anyone an audience gives their ears or eyes to in the confidence that they will report what the deem as news.
In a speech before the National Press Club, blogger/reporter Matt Drudge said:
Every citizen can be a reporter, can take on the powers that be… The Net gives as much voice to a 13-year-old computer geek like me as to a CEO or speaker of the House. We all become equal.
With new blogs emerging and claiming an audience literally everyday, any person with access to computer owns a press. The idea that Liebling formulated in the ’50s to make reporting and rights of the press exclusive is now the idea that makes reporting ultimately inclusive and open to virtually anyone as multitudes of people not only own a “press,” but carry them into their homes, libraries, and coffee shops.
Today, the freedom of press belongs to anyone and everyone as interested audiences give as much reporting power to the guy in his pajamas writing from his mom’s basement as the guy with a tie in a newsroom by simply lending their eyes and ears to the content they want.